WJRT-TV
kW | |
HAAT | 286 m (938 ft) |
---|---|
Transmitter coordinates | 43°13′49″N 84°3′32″W / 43.23028°N 84.05889°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
WJRT-TV (channel 12) is a
History
Goodwill Stations
In May 1952, Goodwill Stations, owner of
WJRT-TV went on the air on October 12, 1958, at 5 p.m., as an ABC network affiliate. As part of the winning bid for the license, the station had to produce several hours of original local programming each day for ten years. At the time the station had to fill 55 hours of programming outside of the network shows. This stipulation led to the creation of original shows, including Mr. Magic and Folkswingers.[5]
Goodwill Stations took over the former WTAC-TV studios and offices at 2302 Lapeer Road in Flint, after that station folded in 1954; WJRT remains there today.
Various owners
Goodwill Stations merged with
In 1978, WJRT along with the rest of Poole Broadcasting (which included WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and WTEN in Albany, New York) were sold to Knight Ridder. In October 1988, the company placed its eight broadcast television stations up for sale to reduce debt and to pay a major purchase.[7] As a result, the station was sold to SJL Broadcast Management in 1989.[4]
During the 1970s, WJRT-TV became Mid-Michigan's highest-rated television station, helped by ABC's ratings improvements during the decade. During the late 1980s and into the 1990s, WJRT-TV was usually second to WNEM-TV.[citation needed]
ABC-owned station
In 1994,
Soon after ABC purchased WJRT, the station returned to the top of the Mid-Michigan ratings for prime time, where it remains today. Because Capital Cities spun the station off decades earlier, WJRT-TV was the only ABC station not part of the Capital Cities/ABC merger in 1986. Longtime ABC affiliates KTRK-TV in Houston and WPVI-TV in Philadelphia were part of the merger.[citation needed]
When ABC acquired WJRT in 1995, it was reunited with its namesake radio station, WJR.
ABC12, the first in Mid-Michigan, started their digital broadcast on May 1, 2002, on channel 36.[4][13] In June 2008, the station received a construction permit for post-transition digital facilities.[4][14]
2nd SJL ownership
On November 3, 2010,
Sales to Gray Television and Allen Media Group
On July 24, 2014, SJL announced that it would sell WJRT and WTVG again, this time to
On May 3, 2021, Gray announced it would acquire the Local Media stations of
Programming
As part of the winning bid for the license, the station had to produce original local programming several hours a day for 10 years. At the time the station had to fill 55 hours of programming outside of the network shows. With the original license agreement for local shows expired in 1968, all but Bozo were replaced by 1972 with syndicated programs.[5] Many of the local children's series were franchised series like Bozo and Romper Room compared to WNEM's full original programs.[22]
- Mr. Magic (1960–1967) was started on air with newly hired commercial writer Earl Frank Cady was asked to come up with a children's program. After taking some magic classes, the show was launched. The show was replaced by Bozo on the day the station went to full color on Labor Day 1967.[5]
- Bozo's Big Top (1967–1979) local performed by Earl Frank Cady
- Colonel Gyro from Outer Space
- Romper Room with Miss Margie
- Theatre of Thrills (1961–67) a horror film anthology with host "Christopher Coffin" played by Farrell Reed Pasternak, a local advertising agency owner and voice-over announcer[5]
Frank Deal, the station weather forecaster, hosted a few of the locally produced shows:
- Almanac early-morning information show
- TV Bingo
- Folkswingers, an entertainment program
- Rae Deane and Friends (1961–68) was co-hosted with Rae Deane Gerkowski with Deal serving as puppet master for puppets Montgomery Lion and Dilly Mahatmashmu.[5]
News operation
As of December 2021, WJRT presently broadcasts 43+1⁄2 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 7+1⁄2 hours each weekday and four hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).
The station produces a regular slate of newscasts plus additional afternoon hours during the week.[23] With the cancellation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the station expanded its noon newscast to an hour starting September 9, 2019, with consumer alerts, entertainment highlights, a featured "Pet of the Day" (a companion segment to 4 p.m. "Dog of the Day" but focusing on other pets) and "Worth it Wednesday" deals segment based on Good Morning America's "Steals and Deals" segment.[24] Also in September, Gray TV stations including WJRT began carrying Full Court Press hosted by Greta Van Susteren.[25]
WJRT's news director Jim Bleicher and General Manager Tom Bryson either retired or left the station after the sale was announced.
On October 8, 2012, a one-on-one interview with
In September 2019, the station expanded its noon newscast[24] and added a national syndication news show.[25]
Technical information
Subchannels
The station's signal is
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.1 | 720p | 16:9 |
WJRT-HD | Main WJRT-TV programming / ABC |
12.2 | 480i | WJRT-D2 | MeTV | |
12.3 | WJRT-D3 | TheGrio TV | ||
12.4 | WJRT-D4 | Start TV | ||
12.5 | WJRT-D5 | Heroes & Icons | ||
12.6 | WJRT-D6 | Bounce TV | ||
12.7 | WJRT-D7 | This TV |
In 2004 along with all the other ABC owned stations, WJRT launched
ABC Owned Television Stations, including WJRT, launched on April 27, 2009, the
On October 31, 2013, WJRT added the local version of WeatherNation to its third digital subchannel, replacing AccuWeather Channel.[36]
On October 17, 2014, Gray Television announced it was adding
WJRT-TV began carrying the
Analog-to-digital conversion
WJRT-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over
After the return to VHF, viewers who had installed UHF receiving antennas during the transition period had the signal compromised. So on October 14, 2009, WJRT filed an application with the FCC to increase the power level from 18.2 kW to 30 kW.[41] The increase was approved in May 2011.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Allen Media Group Pays $70M To Acquire Gray Television's WJRT, An ABC Affiliate In Michigan". MSN Entertainment. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WJRT-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Goodwill Plans" (PDF). Broadcasting * Telecasting. May 5, 1952. p. 66. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "WJRT". Station Listings. Michiguide.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Flinn, Gary (October 4, 2008). "Local, live programs once filled the airwaves". The Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
- ^ "John Poole, 76, Dies; A Broadcasting Chief". The New York Times. April 18, 1989.
- ^ "Knight-Ridder Puts 8 TV Stations on Block to Reduce $929-Million Debt". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 4, 1988. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ Mattern, Hal (June 30, 1994). "Eye say! Channel 5 called up to majors: Homeless CBS picks longtime independent". The Arizona Republic. pp. A1, A7. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pullen, Doug (September 2, 1994). "Channel 5 Adds Weathercaster; Channel 25 Focuses On Health". Flint Journal. Flint, Michigan. pp. C16, C25. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via GenealogyBank.
- ^ "Capital Cities-ABC Completes Buy of Two TV Stations". Associated Press News. August 30, 1995. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Zier, Julie A. (October 10, 1994). "ABC, CBS make market moves" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 124, no. 11. p. 96. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Pullen, Doug (January 17, 1996). "The Big Switch, One Year Later: TV viewers maintain news loyalty but change channels for programs". The Flint Journal. Flint, Michigan. p. B1.
- ^ White, Sue (January 6, 2008). "Converting the masses". The Flint Journal. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ Grego, Melissa (November 3, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: Disney to Sell Two Stations". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ "Exclusive: New GMs For Former ABC O&Os in Flint, Toledo". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. March 31, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Gray Buys Stations in Flint, Toledo For $128M". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ "Gray Closes On Flint, Toledo Station Buys". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. September 15, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- ^ "Gray to acquire Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group in a $2.7 billion transaction". Gray Television. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ "Notification of Consummation", Licensing and Management System, Federal Communications Commission, September 28, 2021, Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ "Allen Media Group Closes $70 Million Purchase of WJRT From Gray TV", Broadcasting & Cable, September 23, 2021, Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ISBN 9781604738193. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
- ^ a b AlHajal, Khalil (April 6, 2011). "ABC12 anchors Bill Harris and Joel Feick out in shake-up at WJRT, sources say". The Flint Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Team, ABC12 News (September 3, 2019). "ABC12 News at Noon expands to a full hour beginning Sept. 9". ABC12.com. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Battaglio, Stephen (April 8, 2019). "Greta Van Susteren will return to TV with a new Sunday political show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ Gauthier, Andrew (April 5, 2011). "Longtime News Director Jim Bleicher Departs WJRT Amid Ownership Change". TVSpy. Mediabistro. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ "ABC 12's Bill Harris to return to telecast this afternoon". Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. May 3, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "Changing stations: Joel Feick returns to television on NBC25". The Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. October 3, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "Longtime WJRT Anchor Bill Harris Joins Rival WEYI". TV Spy. Mediabistro. January 4, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "Ryan Contradicts NRA on Obama gun laws". MSNBC.com. October 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "Fox News host: Paul Ryan victim of 'gotchya question' in Flint ABC12 interview". The Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ a b "Digital TV Market Listing for WJRT". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- Gannett Company. AP. September 4, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ^ "2005 Annual Report". thewaltdisneycompany.com. The Walt Disney Company. p. 52 (54). Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ Malone, Michael (April 27, 2009). "ABC O&Os Launch Digital Network". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ Allen, Jeremy (November 2, 2013). "ABC12 launches new 24-hour weather channel for Flint, Saginaw, Bay City regions". Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "MeTV Adds 5 Affils, Passes 92% Coverage". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ Team, ABC12 News (September 3, 2019). "ABC12 offering two more free channels with classic programming". ABC12.com. WJRT. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Miller, Mark K. (October 17, 2019). "New Country Multiplatform Network From Gray, Opry Entertainment Group To be Named Circle". TV News Check. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Annie, Reuter (December 16, 2019). "Opry Entertainment to Launch New Network Circle in 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ "APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION". licesning.fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. October 13, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2014.